Community members in Scottsdale stepped up to the microphone at Tuesday's city council meeting to ask why an ordinance that would eliminate DEI programs was being considered.
"My question is why, and what cause this?" said one community member during public comment.
The DEI office helped with things like voluntary training, cultural celebrations, and ADA compliance.
"Let me be clear this ordinance was done behind closed doors without a community process," said Councilwoman Solange Whitehead.
ABC15 reached out to every city council member ahead of Tuesday's meeting. Three responded, including two who expressed concern, which included Councilwoman Whitehead.
"Merit based hiring the city of Scottsdale does and always has based their hiring decision on merit," said Councilwoman Whitehead.
ABC15 asked her about the cultural events and other responsibilities of the DEI office and if she was concerned.
"We just simply can't continue to have this much success if we pass policies that have no policy purpose, but simply send the message to the world that Scottsdale is not open for all," said Whitehead.
For over an hour, the council heard from people against the ordinance.
One person who stepped up to the mic, Don Logan. He was previously the Director of Diversity and Dialogue. According to the City agenda item, the office was eventually renamed.
Logan called his item "personal".
"There's nothing in this packet that suggests diversity, equity, and inclusion is a threat," he said.
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Two people spoke in favor of the ordinance.
"Please vote to remove DEI from Scottsdale," one community member asked of the council.
A move to take this to a work study session ended up failing. After Councilman Adam Kwasman, who had publicly called out DEI programs before, addressed the audience.
"The problem, the problem is where rubber meets the road," said Councilman Kwasman.
While he spoke, he was met with shouting from the community. Many letting him know they disagreed.
"DEI as practiced here and elsewhere, it runs policies through the lense of race and sex and other identity categories," said Councilman Kwasman. "It actively prevents diversity of viewpoint."
He also at one point told the council the office "doesn't do much at all."
The ordinance ultimately passed in a five to two vote.
"My hope that recall measures start happening for new council members," said Vice President of NAACP Arizona Pastor Andre Miller.
"I gave my blood for the work I did, and my message to them is shame on them," said Logan after the meeting.
ABC15 was told this will impact two jobs, an ADA coordinator who would be moved to another area outside the DEI office and a Diversity Director who could be reassigned. But when and what happens next is unclear. ABC15 is waiting to hear back from the city.
Scottsdale Councilwoman Maryann McAllen was one of two who voted against eliminating the diversity and inclusion office, partly because her mother was a wheelchair user before ADA paved the way for accessibility.
She fears celebrations under DEI like black history month, could go away.
”Some people feel you’re giving an unfair advantage to people, and everybody should start at the same starting point. The reality is, we don’t all start at the same starting point in life. I wasn't born to a billionaire, I was born to a mother in a wheelchair we had accessibility issues, that’s a concern for me,” said McAllen.
Full statement from the City of Scottsdale:
Ordinance 4662, which eliminates the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, was adopted by the City Council on Feb. 11. Staff is working to implement the ordinance and will have that completed prior to its effective date of March 13 (30 days after approval.)
Management is working with the two staff members currently organized within the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. These are valued colleagues who remain part of the city of Scottsdale team, and we are working with them to match their interests and experience with organizational needs to find other suitable city positions.
No direct services to the community, such as the handling of ADA compliance matters or the handling of discrimination complaints under Scottsdale's Anti-Discrimination Ordinance will be impacted.
Additional specifics will be provided once they are determined.
